Republicans Ramp Up Minority Outreach

Party officials on Wednesday announced a new group of minority elected officials to oversee efforts to step up minority recruitment for the 2014 elections. The party last election cycle started a national program to find more women, Hispanics and other minority candidates. But it only gained one net Hispanic elected official during a rough November for Republicans.

Now New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval will head the Future Majority Caucus. The group will advise party officials as they recruit more diverse candidates for 2014.

The move comes as the GOP struggles to broaden its appeal to women and ethnic minorities and braces for an immigration debate that could further drive it from Hispanic and Asian voters.

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